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The Salem R-80 Board of Education conducted their monthly meeting Thursday evening. After approval of the agenda and consent agenda, there was a report on Serendipity with the theme this year being, "On Broadway" in which there were 46 presenters from around the area. Mayor Gary Brown presented a proclamation declaring July 31st as Honors Choir Day at the event. Superintendent Steve Bryant then updated the Board on legislative issues and stated that the legislation was positive all in all. The 2009 Legislative session is now over. It was then reported that there are 179 students enrolled in summer school at the Lower Elementary and 174 students enrolled at the Upper Elementary. At the beginning of the 2008/2009 school year, Salem R-80 school district had 51 students attending RTI/RTC in 16 different programs and those attending the meeting were recognized before the Board. In new business, The Board of Education of the Salem R-80 School District approved by a 5-1 vote, a resolution placing the $9 million dollar general obligation bond issue on the August 4^th ballot. One of the main reasons for bringing the issue back to the voters so soon is the opportunity to participate in the federal economic stimulus package that could allow a significant share of the bonds to be sold at a zero interest rate. This is called the Qualified School Construction Bond program and Missouri is allocated $141,441,000. A similar authorization is expected for 2010. According to the projections prepared by L.J. Hart & Company the District can continue the existing 68 cent per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation debt service levy without an increase to repay the proposed bond issue.  At the November 4, 2008 and April 7, 2009 elections when interest-bearing bonds were considered, the proposal required an estimated increase of 25 cents to repay the bonds and interest over a twenty-year period. The potential interest savings from the zero interest bonds could be over $1,250,000 which is why no levy increase is necessary for the revised August 4, 2009 proposal. The Salem R-80 school district held an Asthma Clinic in which 25 families participated and a special thank you went to all those who helped make the clinic a success. The Board then approved program evaluations on curriculum, the CIA-communication arts/science curriculum and the A+ program. The A+ program is in its 10th year at Salem. For the 2nd consecutive year the dropout rate was under 3%, the graduation rate increased by 6.6% from the previous year and the attendance rate increased for the 4th straight  year. In 2004, there were 29 students certified A+, in 2005 there were 43, in 2006 there were 54, in 2007 there were 52, in 2008 there were 55 and this year there is about 70 certified A+ students. Bryant then updated the Board on the 2008/2009 budget and feels that they will be right about what was budgeted, except for some roofing issues that will go to capital expenditures. The student drug testing has been running smoothly this year for those students enrolled in extra-curricular or co-curricular activities. Anywhere from 10 to 15 students are tested randomly if not weekly at least three times a month and there have been no refusals. The Board approved a resolution for Internet banking at the request of the auditors with checks and balances in place for the procedures. The Board then approved several policy revisions as far as its phraseology. Bryant reported that the propane used by the district is usually filled in July but in anticipation of the rising fuel costs, bids were let out for propane and the bid was awarded to Ferrell Gas at $0.90 for transport and $1.299 for bobtail. Bryant then asked to Board to delay next months meeting by a week in order to have all the finals figures in place to be able to present a 2009/2010 budget and the Board approved the request. Next months meeting will be on June 25th. After the approval of job descriptions, the Board then went into Closed Session where they employed Linda Hagen as an Upper Elementary teacher and Claire Jenkins for Girl’s Assistant Basketball Coach. The meeting was then adjourned.

An accident happened in Phelps County Sunday morning at 1:00 on Highway 68 about 12 miles south of St. James. According to the highway patrol report, a 1993 Dodge Ram driven southbound by 52-year old Timothy Eddings of Salem, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. Eddings suffered moderate injuries and was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by the St. James ambulance. Eddings was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Ram was totaled and removed from the scene by Spurgeons Towing.

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Tigers Baseball Team will face the Westminster Christian Academy Wildcats today at 4:00 in a Class 3 Sectional at Westminster. (The game has been POSTPONED and recsheduled for Wednesday at 4:00.)

The school is located on Ladue Road in St. Louis County about a mile and half east of Interstate 270 on the right side of the roadway. The cost of admission is $5.00. If you can’t make it to the game, you can hear it on KSMO Radio and online at ksmoradio.com. Salem enters the game with a 19-2 record, while Westminster comes into the game with a 20-8 record.

Bill Hall drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th, giving the Milwaukee Brewers a 1-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, ending a pitchers' duel at Miller Park. Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo and the Cardinals' Chris Carpenter each threw eight shutout innings, as the game remained scoreless going into the extra frame. But Hall's base hit, plating Casey McGehee, gave Milwaukee the victory in the opener of this three-game series. Carpenter gave up only two hits and struck out 10, and has not given up an earned run this season. Kyle McClellan (2-2), who followed Carpenter for the ninth inning, remained on the mound for the 10th and took the loss, as the Cardinals dropped their second consecutive game. The Cardinals and Brewers will play tonight at 6:55 on KSMO Radio.

Justin Verlander pitched seven scoreless innings to help the Detroit Tigers take a 13-1 win over the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. David DeJesus drove in the lone run while Gil Meche (2-5) was tagged for four runs -- two earned -- on six hits with three walks in 2 1/3 innings of work for the Royals, who have dropped five of six. The Royals and Tigers will play again tonight in KC.

Obituaries   [TOP]

Memorial services for Rodney Joe Weible of Jamestown, Missouri, age 43, will be held today at 3:00 at the Wilson Mortuary Chapel in Salem. Visitation will be held from 2:00 until service time. Interment will be in the North Lawn Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Rodney Weible family.

Funeral services for Ronald Moore of Salem, age 68, will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington. Visitation will be held tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Ellington City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Funeral services for Irene Esther Parry of St. James, age 90, will be held Thursday morning at 10:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in St. James. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Asher Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the St. James Memorial Library.

Funeral services for James Forrest Gibbs of Salem, age 83, will be held Thursday morning at 10:00 at the James and Gahr Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Tune Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Tune Cemetery.

Funeral services for Charles L. McCracken of Bunker, age 69, will be held Thursday morning at 11:00 at the Wilson Mortuary in Salem. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Stone Hill Cemetery.

Weather [TOP]